OCTOBER 30, 1861

Mary alias Red saw the man who had murdered her sister descending the stairs. Anger started boiling up inside her, but she had to squash those feelings. She had to pretend for her sister's sake. The killer had to be brought to justice and only proof could do that. She would have to do as the sheriff had instructed her in order for Stone to be arrested.

As he headed her way, she batted her eyes and smiled. Thinking that he might not come to her, she sauntered over to him, walking the way Teaspoon had taught her. "Buy a girl a drink?"  Too loss for words, he could only nod, and they both stopped at the bar. Andy poured them each a whiskey.

"I thought . . . I thought," how could he say that he thought she was dead. He just couldn't find the words to voice it aloud.

"You thought I was dead, didn't you." She whispered close to his ear. He turned to look at her to see if she was just teasing or if she was sincere. Her face told him all he needed to know.

"Yes, how? You weren't?" He shook his head still not believing his eyes.

"I was just unconscious, not dead. I told that old dumb sheriff that I had just fainted, so you wouldn't be in any trouble." He stared at her wondering why she would do such a thing.

"Now that I've saved you from going to jail. I want in."

"In?"

"In on whatever your plan is. You hypnotized that doctor over in Dreamville. I want to know why, and I want money to keep quiet about it, and if I don't get it then I'll go to the sheriff and change my story." It was hard for Mary to not just bash him over the head with the beer mug that a fella next to them was drinking out of.

Blackmail! So that was her game.

"So how much are we talking about?"

"Nothin'"

"What? Come on now, its either share the loot with me, or I'm heading straight to the sheriff, and I'll tell him everything I know."

"I'm telling you the truth. There is no money," he hissed.

"Then why did you hypnotize that fella in Dreamville? There has to be some money involved."

"I did it because he hurt the woman I love."

"Oh! You did it for love. Well, that's not going to help me get out of this stinking place. I need money, and you better come up with some or else."

Stone didn't like being threatened but before he could speak to Red, the music started playing and some drunken cowhand grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out on the floor. Mary was so surprised that all she could do was let that man whirl her around. When she finally regained her senses, she wanted to get away from the man and back to

Stone, but it wasn't easy trying to get away from him. Then a cowboy poked the drunk on the shoulder, and grabbed her, moving her away from the other man. She was about to try and get loose from him when he spoke to her. "Good evening Mary."

Her mouth flew open. How could he know her name? She didn't know him. And if he knew her then he might ruin the plan. Before she could speak, he said, "I know who you are. Sheriff Teaspoon told me. He wants me to look after you while you're pretending to be a saloon girl. I'm to keep the drunks and the pests away."

Well, he knew the sheriff and her real name, so he must be telling the truth. She was glad he was here to protect her from these ill-mannered men. He wasn't bad lookin' either. After a few times around the floor, she said, "I need to get back to the bar."

"Your wish is my command." He danced her over to the bar, and he ordered a beer while she went back to Stone.

"I need money, Stone." She whispered to him, trying to drive the point across that she wasn't just going to go away, not until he paid her off.

"I don't have any."

"Well then get some. Otherwise," she didn't finish the sentence cause she knew that he knew what she meant.

"Alright, I'll meet you in your room tonight at midnight." He said through clenched teeth. He finished his third glass of whiskey and then headed out of the saloon.

"Can you deliver a message to the sheriff for me?" She asked the short black haired gentleman that had come to her aid earlier.

"Yeah, I can do that." He replied.

"Tell him that I'm to meet Stone at midnight tonight."

"Alright, my other friend will keep an eye on you, make sure nothing happens to you while I deliver the message." He looked over at a table and Mary followed his gaze to see a blond headed man smiling at them and then he tipped his hat to her.

That night Teaspoon was in the room next to Red's. Mary would drop an object on the floor to signal Teaspoon that she needed him just in case things went wrong. Otherwise she would keep the money and then arrive in Dreamville to spook Stone.

Stone knocked on Red's back door, and Mary opened it. He slipped in, and Mary asked, "Did you get the money?"

"Yeah, I have it. It's down at the livery stables." Stone replied.

"What? Why did you leave it there? Go and fetch it."

"I couldn't take the chance of being caught with it. If people find out that I'm carrying a lot of money, then they might ambush me. You come down to the livery with me, and I'll give you the money."

"What? That wasn't part of the plan. You were suppose to bring it here."

Stone shrugged, "If you want the money, then you'll come with me." Stone turned around and went outside.

Mary wasn't about to let the plan go by the wayside not after all she had done. Before leaving the room, she knocked over the lamp and then followed Stone to the livery stables. Teaspoon heard the crashing noise and ran out of the room and over to Red's. He opened the door and peered in. Surprisingly there was no one there. He saw the back door ajar, so he strode across the room and out the door. He went down the back stairs and snuck a peek around the corner. He didn't want Stone to see him in case the plan had backfired.

Meanwhile Joshua Smith and Thaddeus Jones were in the livery stables getting their horses saddled. They wanted to make tracks out of Broken Bow before the sheriff saw them again.

"Kid we did a pretty good job looking after that saloon girl, Red, or Mary whatever her name is. You didn't even have to draw your gun once tonight."

 "Thank goodness, cause I didn't want to stand out, not with that sheriff nearby." Thaddeus stated.

 As the men were about to back out their horses, they heard voices, so they didn't move.

"So where's the money?" Mary asked.

"In this saddlebag," he handed it over to her. When she started to open it to look inside, Stone brought up the butt of his gun, preparing to knock her out. But she saw his intentions out of the corner of her eye, and she moved aside screaming, hoping that Teaspoon could hear her.

Always ready to save a lady in distress, Thaddeus came forward and shot the gun out of Stone's hand. Stone was startled to see someone with them, so he started to run, but he didn't get far cause Teaspoon barred his path. Teaspoon handcuffed the hypnotist, and then thanked the two gents for their intervention.

"I sure wish you two gents would stick around. We could use your testimony to convict this man." Teaspoon spoke up as he saw them leading their horses out of the stalls.

"Do you really need us, sheriff?" Joshua inquired.

"No, I guess not. With Miss Gardner's testimony and mine, it should be enough." Teaspoon truthfully replied.

"Then we'll be on our way," Thaddeus led his horse past the sheriff.

"If you don't mind, sheriff?" Joshua inquired as he stopped his horse in front of the sheriff. Sheriff Hunter nodded.

Mary watched them go and then she realized that she didn't know the dark haired man's name. "Mister . . . Mister-" she called.

Joshua stopped his horse and turned around. "Yes ma'am."

"I don't even know your name."

Joshua smiled. "It's Joshua, Joshua Smith ma'am."

"Thank you Mister Smith. I wish you'd stay."

Joshua shook his head, "I'm sorry ma'am I can't."

"Where you heading?"

"South ma'am, to a little town called Dreamville."

"Thank you Mr. Smith, thanks for saving my life tonight." She kissed him on the cheek.

"It was my pleasure ma'am." Smiling Joshua mounted and caught up with his buddy.

About a mile out of town Thaddeus asked, "Why did she thank you? I'm the one who saved her."

"I guess she just likes me more Kid." Joshua grinned and then galloped on ahead. Thaddeus just shook his head and kicked the side of his horse to catch up with his best friend.